The Gophers have played USC here in three previous games, winning 25-19 in 1955, and losing 29-20 in 1968 and 24-7 in 1980. The 1955 and 1968 games were particularly memorable. The Trojans were ranked No. 10 in the country in 1955 but the Californians couldn’t deal with an early season Minneapolis snowstorm, and lost.
In 1968 USC was a glamour team, ranked No. 2 in the country and featuring the now infamous O.J. Simpson. Minnesota coach Murray Warmath instructed the groundskeeper at Memorial Stadium to let the grass grow long prior to the season opening game, hoping to slow down Simpson, the USC tailback who later that year would win the Heisman Trophy. Didn’t work, though, as Simpson ran for 236 yards and four touchdowns against the No. 16 ranked Gophers.
The Wild open training camp tomorrow and the regular season begins with a pair of games on October 7 and 8 in Finland against Carolina. Hope is that this season has a better beginning than last.
In 2009 the Wild lost six of its first eight games. Forward Matt Cullen, the Minnesota native who signed on with the Wild in July, has played with several NHL clubs and knows that kind of start is troublesome, even with an 82 game schedule.
Cullen was with Carolina when the team went to the conference finals in the spring of 2009. Then last season Carolina started poorly and didn’t make the playoffs.
Cullen wants to see a fast start by the Wild. “It’s nearly impossible to make up that ground,” he told Sports Headliners. “This league is too tight. You have to come out of the gate strong. So that for us is going to be a primary focus from day one of camp.”
If the Twins finish with the best record in the American League it seems certain Ron Gardenhire will be voted Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Gardenhire has managed five division winners since becoming the Twins field boss but never been honored as American League Manager of the Year.
Former Twins great Tony Oliva told Sports Headliners pitcher Francisco Liriano, who is having his best season since 2006, might have even greater arm strength next season and a better year.
Local author Dave Wright has a book signing tomorrow starting at 2 p.m. at Valley Bookseller in Stillwater. Wright’s book, 162-0: The Greatest Wins, is about memorable Twins games.